Process of manufacturing sulfuric acid.



W. HALLOGK. PROCESS or MANUFACTURING SULFURIG ACID.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1905.

Patented 'Aug. 10, 1909.

WILLIAM HALLOCK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS OFRMANUFACTURIN'G SULFURIC ACID.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

Application filed July 15, 1905. Serial No. 269,850.

general, but heretofore it has been done by using the fumes ofconcentrated nitric acid or by the catalytic action of platinum blackupon asbestos or some other medium, or by other special means involvingrather elaborate apparatus and treatment. My invention, however, isintended to do away with most of the apparatus'generally used, andsimplify the process. It comprises the oxidation of the sulfurous oxidby means 'of the ionization of one or more of the gases evolved byradium, thorium, uranium or other radioactive substance or by X-rays,Kathode rays, Lenard rays, or ultra violet light or other ionizingsubstance or agency. I have found that a comparatively feeble agentserves to bring about the oxidation of sulfurous oxid if oxygen ispresent, and the ionizing influences serve to accomplish this result,that is, to put the atmosphere in such a condition as to recipitate theacid. I do not confine myself? to an means of putting the atmosphere inwhich the treatment is effected, into this ionizing condition, and amshowing Simply a means of doing it.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specification, inxwhich similar reference characters indicatecorresponding parts.

The drawingshows simply a containing flask or receptacle 10, in which issuspended a rod 11, and this has upon its surface a coating of radium orso-called Polonium or other radio-active material. The flask has also aleading-in tube'12, through which the sulfurous oxid is conveyed to theflask and an outlet 13 through which the taining oxygen.

resultant gases may escape. In this apparatus a little mixed airandsulfurdioxid with the Water vapor forms sulfuric acid,

which collects in the bottom of the flask and upon its Walls.

I have shown the above described apparatus simply to illustrate how theoperation can be carried on, but the apparatus forms no part of theinvention, and the only thing required is to brin into the presence ofany ionizing agent, and in the presence of oxygen. I have found that ifthe sulfurous oxid is brought into the presence of radio-active materialeven in atmospheric air, the necessary oxidation occurs. It is knownthat gases in the ionized condition are particularly active chemically,as well as electrical conductors, and under the circumstances named, oneor more of the gases becomes partially ionized and the oxidation of thesulfurous oxid takes place as a consequence.

Having .thus fully described my inventhe sulfurous oxid SO and watervapor can be passed into the flask and subjected to the ionizinginfluence oftion, I claim'as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent 1. The herein described method of making sulfuric acid, whichconsists in subjecting sulfurous oxid (S0,) to the influence of anionizing agent in the presence of oxygen.

2. The herein described method of making sulfuric acid, which consistsin putting sulfurous oxid (S0 and oxygen in an ionized condition,whereby th dizied to S0,.

8. An improvement in the art of making sulfuric acid, which consists ininjecting sulfurous oxid into an ionized atmosphere con- S0 is oxi-W'ILLI AM HALLO CK.

Vitnesses:

WARREN B. HurrcHmsoN, RoB'r. D. KENT.

